Lawn sprinkler



May 7, 1963 c. L. TURNER 3,088,678.

' I "LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Nov. 15, 1961 D 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR May 7, 1963 e. L. TURNER 3,083,678

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed NOV. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l j1g.4

INVENTOR 38 Geo/ye L. 7Z1r/1er QKPM a] ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3-,n88,t78 Patented May 7, 1963 3,038,678 LAWN SPRINKLER George L. Turner, Hickory Corners, Mich, assignor to H. B. Sherman Manufacturing Company, Battle Creek, MiclL, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,557 8 Claims. (Cl. 239--23t) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in lawn sprinklers, and more particularly to a lawn sprinkler of the wave type.

There are numerous forms of wave type lawn sprinklers available. However, the difficulties with the previous sprinklers of this general type involve water driven motors which clog with foreign matter which commonly gets into the hose, are expensive, and are generally of only moderate life, and another important consideration is the fact that the sprinkling pattern which a one movable part sprinkler with flipper produces, instead of being rectangular, as desired, is substantially of a figure-8 shape. In other words, with previous practice involving one movable piece, wave type sprinklers is that when the sprinkler flipper is at one extreme end of its travel, the sprinkler pattern comes to a rounded end and as the flipper starts returning to the other end of its extreme movement, the pattern will gradually Widen out until it is about half way to the upright position and then the pattern will start coming in so that by the time the flipper is in its upright position, the pattern is again quite narrow. This pattern then gradually increases in width until the flipper is approximately half way from its upright to its opposite travel end position when it reaches a maximum width of sprinkled pattern and then starts shrinking down until at the end of the travel, the pattern is of rounded end configuration again. This, of course, is not a good sprinkling pattern since the ideal pattern is substantially rectangular rather than that of a figure-8 form. It was with a recognition of these problems that the sprinkler of the present invention has been developed, and as a result, the substantially rectangular pattern has been attained along with low cost, and elimination of the need of a water driven motor.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention has been the provision of a lawn sprinkler which has a nozzle having a configuration so as to assure a substantially rectangular spray pattern, such nozzle having a relatively large central portion and oppositely extending outlet slots which gradually taper inward as they extend towards the outer ends thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel nozzle for use in a lawn sprinkler to effect a rectangular spray pattern with the lawn sprinkler, the nozzle having a central portion generally of a circular outline and substantially V-shaped endportions pointing in opposite directions wherein the proper amount of water is provided in the fan-like spray from the nozzle to produce the desired substantially rectangular spray pattern.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified and positive action wave type sprinkler which sprinkles a substantially rectangular spray pattern, and which pattern may be made wide or narrow by means of an adjustable member mounted over the nozzle outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel lawn sprinkler of the wave type which is provided with novel means for effecting the traveling or swinging of a fan-like spray from a spray nozzle so as to shift the spray delivered from the spray nozzle over a predetermined pattern without the need of a water driven motor.

A further object of this invention is to. provide in a wave type lawn sprinkler a spray deflector which includes a carrier mounted on a first longitudinal axis for swinging movement, and a spray deflector in the form of a flipper carried by the carrier and mounted for swinging movement on a second longitudinal axis relative to the carrier and being movable with the carrier.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide novel spray deflecting means which includes an inverted U- shaped carrier formed by a pair of end plates connected at their upper ends by a connecting bar, and a V-shaped flipper carried by the carrier for movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative to the carrier, the V- shaped flipper having a lower portion projecting downwardly below the pivot axis thereof whereby when the carrier and the flipper are both disposed in a remote position, the lower portion of the flipper will be in the path of a water spray so as to reverse the direction of movement of the carrier.

Still another object is to provide a novel spray deflector for wave type lawn sprinklers wherein same includes a V-shaped flipper, with the upper outer edges of said flipper having outturned wings which provide more positive action of the flipper and prevent same from coming to rest so as to be difiicult to actuate through the force imparted by the water issuing from the lawn sprinkler nozzle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel spray deflector structure for use in a wave type lawn sprinkler wherein the deflector is in the form of an upstanding V-shaped cross-sectional flipper carried by an inverted U-shaped carrier with the carrier being pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a first longitudinal axis and the flipper being pivotally mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto about a second longitudinal axis, the carrier having stop means for restricting the pivoting of the flipper relative thereto, and there being other stop means for restricting the pivoting of the carrier, both of said step means being of the resilient type so as to cushion the stopping of the flipper and the carrier and thereby make the operation of the lawn sprinkler relatively noiseless.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one form of the lawn sprinkler, which is the subject of this invention, and shows the general details thereof with a portion of the flipper broken away to expose the outlet opening of the nozzle.

*FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the lawn sprinkler of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the lawn sprinkler of FIGURE 1.

HGURE 4 is a bottom view of the lawn sprinkler.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the lawn sprinkler.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through the lawn sprinkler as taken along the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the internal details of construction of the lawn sprinkler.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view as taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the spray deflector structure being swung substantially upright from the position shown aosacre 3 in FIGURE 1, and shows more specifically the details of mounting of the spray deflector structure.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the adjustable nozzle which may be used to vary the width of spray pattern delivered by the wave-type lawn sprinkler of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the lawn sprinkler is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The lawn sprinkler 119 includes a support which may be of any suitable type and which is referred to by the numeral 11. The support 11 is illustrated as including a suitable relatively flat base 12 having a pair of longitudinally extending support ribs 13 projecting downwardly from the underside thereof, as is best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The base 12 is provided with a centrally located upstanding, integral housing, generally referred to by the numeral 14. The housing 14 includes an upstanding front portion 15 which terminates in a depending rear wall 16. The housing 14 also includes a pair of side walls 17 which extend rearwardly of the front portion 15 as well as forming the side walls thereof. The rear ends, FIGURE 7, the side walls 17 are con nected together by an upstanding rear wall 18. The housing 14 also includes a bottom 19 with drain openings 190, FIGURE 4, at one end thereof.

The front portion 15, FIGURE 1, of the housing 14 has a tubular extension 20 at the forward end thereof. A water supply tube 21, FIGURES 4 and 7, extends through the tubular extension 29 generally above the plane of the base 12 and terminates beneath the bottom 19 of the housing 14. A suitable hose coupling fitting 22 is mounted on the forward end of the water supply tube 21 for connecting the same to a water hose.

The bottom 19 of the housing 14 is provided with a central opening defined by a depending circumferential flange 23, FIGURE 7. A spray nozzle 24 has a lower tubular portion 25 which extends down through the flange 23 and is secured to the side portion of the closed rear end of the water supply tube 21 with the interior of the water supply tube 21 opening into the tubular portion 25 of the spray nozzle 24. In this manner, water is supplied to the inner end of spray nozzle 24. The side of spray nozzle 24, FIGURE 4, is preferably provided with an integral projection 46 fitting a corresponding groove in bottom 19 to hold nozzle 24 against turning out of suitable operating position. Water supply tube 21 is likewise provided with an integral projection 47 fitting a corresponding groove in tubular extension 20 to hold supply tube 21 in desired fixed position.

At this time, it is pointed out that the water supply tube 21, FIGURE 7, and the spray nozzle 24 are preferably formed from Cycolac plastic, which is a high-impact, styrene-type, rigid, thermoplastic resin, with this particular plastic being used for the noted properties as well as for the simple reason that it is readily weldable to fasten the spray nozzle 24 to the water supply tube 21. This particular plastic is soluble in acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, which solvents are about as thin as water and according to the welding procedure followed, some of the Cycolac plastic is first dissolved into one of these solvents, which makes a thicker welding solution, and the solution is brushed over the bottom of the tubular portion 25 after it has been placed within the flange 23. The water supply tube 21 is then coupled to the solution coated face of the tubular portion 25 so as to weld or bond the water supply tube and the spray nozzle 24 together as a single through passageway unit. It is to be understood, however, that other types of materials may be utilized in the formation of the assembly consisting of the water supply tube 21 and the tubular portion 25 of the spray nozzle 24.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 wherein the general outline of the discharge opening 26 of the spray nozzle 24 is shown. It is to be noted that the discharge opening 26 preferably has a generally circular central portion 27 of a maximum width and generally V-s haped end portions 28 which point away from the circular central portion 27. This particular shape of the discharge opening 26 provides the proper supply of water in the fan-shaped spray from the spray nozzle 24 so that as the water spray is deflected back and forth from one side of the lawn sprinkler 10 to the other, a substantially true rectangular spray pattern is provided. In a conventional small lawn sprinkler an diameter opening 27, and a /2 length discharge opening 26 has been found to be very satisfactory for substantially rectangular pattern sprinkling.

In some cases the spray pattern is desired to be narrower and longer than the normal full width spray pattern, and this is accomplished by providing the spray nozzle 24 with a rotary adjustable member 48 as shown in FIGURE 8. This adjustable member is preferably of a shallow hollow cap form which will overlie and rotatably fit and closely cover spray nozzle 24. The top portion of the side edges of this rotary adjustable member 48 are preferably supplied, at the opposite side edges of same, with a pair of short circumferential slots 49 into which the ends of pivot pins 37a and 38a extend and hold down the rotary adjustable member under conditions of operation. Rotary adjustable member 48 is preferably of a size to be readily rotated concentrically about spray nozzle 24 and yet suitably frictionally held against rotation between adjustments. This adjustable member 48 is provided on its top with an opening 50 of substantially the same shape as discharge opening 26 of nozzle 24 but a little larger so as to not interfere with spraying of water through nozzle 24 when opening 26 is lined up with opening 50. However, when adjustable member 48 is rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 8, the adjustable member 48 at the side edges of opening 50 will cover the outer ends of the nozzle opening 26 and thus narrow the delivered stream of water coming out of nozzle 24 with resulting narrowing the spray pattern width while lengthening same. Adjustments of the rotary adjustable member 48 between its end positions will, of course, likewise vary the spray pattern.

The lawn sprinkler 19, FIGURE 7, also includes a spray deflector assembly generally referred to by the numeral 29. The spray deflector assembly 29 includes a carrier 30 and a spray deflector in the form of a flipper 31. These are generally seated within the confines of the housing 14, as illustrated.

The carrier 30, FIGURE 7, includes a pair of upstanding end plates 32 and 33 which are connected togather at their upper ends by means of a connecting bar 34. The connecting bar 34 may also be provided with a forward extension 35 for appearance and added rigidity of carrier 30.

The lower ends of the end plates 32 and 63, FIGURE 7, are provided with opposed bosses 36 in which are disposed aligned pivot pins 37 and 38 carried by the rear wall "16 and the rear wall 18, respectively. In this manner, the carrier 30 is mounted for swinging movement back and forth on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the center of the discharge opening 26 about a first longitudinal axis which lies in the vertical plane passing through the discharge opening 26, when the lawn sprinkler 10 is setting on a horizontal surface, and with the first longitudinal axis being disposed generally coplanar with the discharge opening 26.

The flipper 31, FIGURES 6 and 7, is of a V-shaped cross-section and is formed of a pair of Wings 39' connected together at their lower ends to define a pointed apex 40. An elongated pivot pin 41 extends the full length of the flipper 3 1 and has the ends thereof journaled in the end plates 32 and 3 3 above the pivot pins 37 and 38. It is also to be noted that the wings 39 terminate at their upper ends in outwardly directed wings 42 for supplying added pivoting force on flipper 3-1 by the stream of water issuing from spray nozzle 24.

In the operation of the lawn sprinkler a water spray from the spray nozzle 24 would strike the projecting portion of the apex 40' of the flipper 3 1, for instance, on the left side thereof, FIGURE 6, but to the right of the pivot pin 41. The pressure from-the water spray onthe flipper 31 would then cause the swinging force on flipper 31 to be in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 41. On the other hand, this force acting on the flipper 3-1, at the same time, is to the left of the axis of swinging of the carrier 30', with the result that the carrier 30 is urged to the right in a clockwise direction of rotation. During the starting portion of this additional swinging movement or the carrier 30, the flipper SI is momentarily held in a leftmost position with respect to the carrier 30. However, as the carrier continues to swing from the left to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 6, the pivot 41 of flipper 3 1 will reach an overcenter position relative to nozzle 24, at which time the flipper will also swing in a clockwise direction about its pivot 41, the flipper swinging relative to the carrier until it reaches an extreme right hand position with respect to the carrier where the upper inner edge of the flipper bumps ring 45. The flipper 31 continues to move back and forth as the spray hits first one side of the flipper and then the other, and the carrier 30 continues to move to the right until the two reach their ex treme right hand positions, at which time the effect at the water spray on the flipper 31 results in the reversal of the swinging movement of the flipper 31 and the carrier 30. The movement of the flipper, and separately the carrier, is so rapid that the delivered droplets of water seem to be continuous all the time over the spray pattern area.

It is to be understood that the flipper 3'1, flipping back and forth in the spray stream issued from the spray nozzle 24, breaks up the spray stream into a myriad of small droplets which are ideal for sprinkling. It is again pointed out at this time that the resultant spray pattern will be of a substantially rectangular outline as compared to the generally figure-8 shaped outline of previous sprinklers of the single moving part type.

In order to cushion the spray deflector assembly in its operation and reduce the noise of operation of the sprinkler 10, the spray deflector assembly 29 is provided with a few desirable features. As is best shown in FIG- URE 6, the end plate 32 is of a generally diamond-shaped outline. The end plate 33, FIGURE 3, has a similar outline. The lower portions of the end plates 32 and 33 normally engage the upper edges of the side walls 17 in the extreme swinging position of the carrier 30* so as to limit the extent of its swinging movement. The lower portions of the end plates 32 and 33 are provided with elongated slits '43 to define bottom connected spring fingers 44. It is these spring fingers 44 which come into contact with the upper edge of side walls 17, and thus cushion the shock of the end plates 32 and 33 striking the side walls 17 and at the same time resiliently urge carrier '30 in reverse direction.

It is to be understood that the extent of swinging movement of the flipper 31 relative to the carrier 30 is controlled by the connecting bar 34. To this end, the connecting bar 34 preferably carries a substantially centrally located rubber ring 45 which projects to opposite sides of the connecting bar 34 and is engaged by the wings 39 of the flipper 31 in their oscillating movement and cushions same at the end of each swinging movement of same, and urges the flipper in opposite direction.

It will be readily apparent that the lawn sprinkler, which is the subject of this invention, is of an extremely simple construction, and may be readily assembled. It is also apparent that the lawn sprinkler has substantially no wearing parts so as to have a long life and at the same time, the operation thereof is extremely quiet. In addition, the lawn sprinkler is adjustable in size of the rectangular spray pattern and provided with a specially shaped spray nozzle which produces the desired substan- 6 tially rectangular sprayv pattern as contrasted with the previous figure-8 pattern.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that minor modifications may be made in the invention within the spirit and scope of the invention, as herein illustrated and described. It is further to be noted that while directional terms have been used herein, the purpose of same has been to facilitate describing the sprinkler as resting on the ground in normal garden or yard sprinkling position, and such terms are not to be considered as limiting the invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the lawn sprinkler and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such statedmeans be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A lawn sprinkler comprising a support, an upwardly directed nozzle carried by said support, said nozzle having a longitudinally elongated outlet to provide a fan-like spray, a water supply tube connected to said nozzle for delivering water thereto, a carrier, said carrier being of an inverted U-shape and including a pair of end plates and a connecting bar extending longitudinally between and secured to upper ends of said end plates, first mounting means on said support connected to lower portions of said end plates and mounting said carrier for swinging movement about a first longitudinal axis substantially aligned with said nozzle outlet, a spray deflector in the form of a V-shaped flipper having on its upper edges outwardly diverging Wings, a second mounting means on said carrier mounting said flipper thereon for movement therewith and for swinging movement relative to said carrier about a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first, said wing carrying edges of said flipper being disposed on opposite sides of said connecting bar for limiting swinging of said flipper relative to said carrier, and means on said support engageable with said end plates for limiting swinging of said carrier.

2. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said nozzle is largest at its center and tapers towards the ends thereof whereby a substantially rectangular spray pattern is formed.

3. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said flip er has a lower apex depending below said second longitudinal axis into the path of the water spray for initiating the swinging of said carrier from a remote position.

4. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said connecting bar carries a resilient stop for engagement by said wing carrying edges of said flipper.

5. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said end plates have resilient extending edge portions for engagement with said support.

6. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said flipper has outwardly directed upper wings to make said flipper very responsive to liquid flow through said nozzle and to prevent the stopping of said flipper in a balanced position.

7. A lawn sprinkler comprising a support, an upwardly directed nozzle carried by said support, said nozzle having a longitudinally elongated outlet to provide a fanlike spray, a water supply tube connected to said nozzle for delivering water thereto, a carrier, first mounting means on said support mounting said carrier for pivotal movement about a first longitudinal axis lengthwise of said nozzle outlet, a spray deflector, and a second mounting means on said carrier mounting said spray deflector for movement with said carrier and for pivotal movement relative to said carrier about a second longitudinal axis, wherein said spray deflector is in the form of a flipper which is substantially V-shaped in cross-section and having a lower apex depending below said second longitudinal axis into the path of the water spray for initiating the swinging of said carrier from a remote position, and wherein said flipper has outwardly directed upper wings to make said flipper very responsive to liquid flow through said nozzle and toprevent the stopping of said flipper in a balanced position.

8. A lawn sprinkler comprising a support, an upwardly directed nozzle carried by said support, said nozzle having a longitudinally elongated outlet to provide a fan-like spray, a water supply tube connected to said nozzle for delivering water thereto, a carrier, first mounting means on said support mounting said carrier for pivotal movement about a first longitudinal axis lengthwise of said nozzle outlet, a spray deflector, and a second mounting means on said carrier mounting said spray deflector for movement with said carrier and for pivotal movement relative to said carrier about a second longitudinal axis,

wherein there is a rotatable means mounted above said nozzle for varying the size of the substantially rectangular sprinkler pattern, and further wherein the discharge opening of said nozzle is largest at its center and tapers toward the ends thereof, whereby a substantially rectangular spray pattern is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,491,253 Barnes Apr. 22, 1924 2,172,193 Downs Sept. 5, 1939 2,647,801 Lycan Aug. 4, 1953 2,935,266 Ooleondro et al May 3, 1960 2,947,483 Larson Aug. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,288 Australia Aug. 17, 1954 776,900 France Nov. 17, 1934 

8. A LAWN SPRINKLER COMPRISING A SUPPORT, AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED NOZZLE CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT, SAID NOZZLE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED OUTLET TO PROVIDE A FAN-LIKE SPRAY, A WATER SUPPLY TUBE CONNECTED TO SAID NOZZLE FOR DELIVERING WATER THERETO, A CARRIER, FIRST MOUNTING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MOUNTING SAID CARRIER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST LONGITUDINAL AXIS LENGTHWISE OF SAID NOZZLE OUTLET, A SPRAY DEFLECTOR, AND A SECOND MOUNTING MEANS ON SAID CARRIER MOUNTING SAID SPRAY DEFLECTOR FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID CARRIER AND FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER ABOUT A SECOND LONGITUDINAL AXIS, WHEREIN THERE IS A ROTATABLE MEANS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID NOZZLE FOR VARYING THE SIZE OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SPRINKLER PATTERN, AND FURTHER WHEREIN THE DISCHARGE OPENING OF SAID NOZZLE IS LARGEST AT ITS CENTER AND TAPERS TOWARD THE ENDS THEREOF, WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SPRAY PATTERN IS FORMED. 